by Ava Stone
Determined to be strong, she left the room behind her and started down the steps for the taproom. From the top of the staircase, she heard Robert’s voice. “No, I’m letting her sleep. I’ve been waking her up very early the last few days and my wife loves to sleep in late.”
Just the sound of his voice made her smile. She sighed as she remembered the things he’d whispered in her ear the night before, and her heart beat faster in her chest.
Once on the landing, Lydia could see that her husband was talking to Mrs. Lange.
The innkeeper’s wife smiled at Robert. “Your kindness never ceases to amaze me, Lord Masten. I don’t think Stan has ever let me sleep in, not even after childbirth. But such is the way with gentry, I’m sure.”
The floor creaked beneath Lydia, and Robert turned his head in her direction, pinning her with his intense gaze. “There you are, sweetheart. We were just talking about you.” His voice was like a caress, and her heart leapt when he winked at her.
“Good morning,” Lydia replied as she met his eyes. It was a relief to see him looking so content. Her anxiety began to fade away.
Mrs. Lange giggled. “Truly amazing. I have never seen a couple married for years that gaze so adoringly at one another.”
As Lydia blushed at the remark, Robert grinned at the innkeeper’s wife. “I’m just a very fortunate man, Mrs. Lange. My wife is the most amazing creature. I continue to learn new things about her every day.”
The older woman smiled warmly at the earl. “Well, I’ll go fetch her breakfast, my lord.”
After Mrs. Lange left, Robert crossed the floor in a few strides to his wife. He slid his arm behind her waist and pulled her into his embrace. “You look lovely this morning.”
Lydia chewed her bottom lip. “I missed you when I woke up.”
Robert chuckled. “Oh?” Then he kissed her lips gently. “Did you want to ravish me this morning as well?”
“Robert!” Her blush deepened.
He tipped his head down to whisper in her ear. “We have the rest of our lives for that, my little minx. But I’ll make sure to have you morning, noon, and night once we reach Gosling Park.” Then he kissed her cheek.
Having him so near, she felt like the wanton he’d always thought her to be. If he’d dragged her back upstairs to their room, she would have gladly gone.
But before she could comment, Mrs. Lange was back from the kitchen with baked eggs and sausages. “Here you are, Lady Masten. I hope you’ll enjoy it.” Mrs. Lange placed the food on a nearby table.
“Thank you.” Lydia smiled gratefully at the woman as she took a seat in front of her breakfast.
Robert touched Lydia’s shoulder and smiled at Mrs. Lange. “Why don’t you keep my wife company while I make sure our coach is ready to leave?”
Mrs. Lange nodded. “Of course, my lord, I would be honored.” She took a seat across from Lydia and Robert ventured outside.
“This is delicious,” Lydia remarked. And it was. She hadn’t realized what an appetite she had worked up.
“I’m glad you’re pleased, Lady Masten. If you don’t mind my saying so, you shouldn’t let your husband travel alone.”
“Oh?” Lydia stopped mid-bite.
“He just usually seems so lonely when he comes through here. But this time he’s more personable than I’ve ever seen him. He must miss you terribly when you’re separated.”
Lydia smiled politely and nodded. She knew very well that for the length of their marriage Robert hadn’t missed her terribly. But was that starting to change? He did seem amorous this morning, and all night as well. Though she didn’t dare get her hopes up. She and Robert had an agreement. When she was expecting his child, she imagined things would go back to normal. She might see him more often, especially if he truly wanted her and the child installed at Gosling Park. He would probably see them regularly.
But would it ever be more than that?
An attractive, young, blond-haired man came in from the kitchen. “Mama?”
Mrs. Lange smiled. “Yes, Thomas?”
“Father is looking for you.”
Mrs. Lange’s face fell. “Oh, I’m sure he’s looking for that bread to take to the Wilsons.” She stood up and started for the back door. She touched her son’s arm on the way out. “Thank you, dear. Oh, Thomas, this is Lady Masten.”
Thomas bowed. “How do you do, your ladyship?”
Lydia smiled. “Very well, thank you.”
“I hope your stay was satisfactory?” The young man crossed the room and stood before her.
“Yes, thank you.” She nearly blushed when she thought of just how satisfactory her stay had been. The Knight’s Arms would always hold a special place in her heart—the first place she made love to her husband.
“Can I get you anything else?” Thomas asked.
***
Robert walked back inside The Knight’s Arms and his brow furrowed immediately as young Thomas Lange fawned over Lydia, adoration in his eyes. In the past, he’d been annoyed with the looks other men gave Lydia because he was afraid that their attention and her obvious lack of self-control would cause a scandal with his name attached.
But this was different.
This was jealousy, pure and simple.
Thomas Lange was an attractive man and much closer to Lydia’s age than he was. The young man’s hair was also the same golden hue of Luke’s and he didn’t her want to think about his brother. No, Thomas Lange wasn’t the Earl of Masten, but Lydia had never really seemed to care overmuch about titles. After all she’d taken up with Luke in the first place.
He was being ridiculous and he knew it. There was no reason to be jealous over the innkeeper’s penniless son—but he was. To see that smitten look on the man’s face—well, it was enough to make Robert scowl and think up numerous ways to dismember the younger man.
How long would it be before Lydia met someone she could actually love? Someone who hadn’t caused her five years worth of pain and misery? “Lydia,” he barked, “Henderson is ready. If you’ll wait in the carriage, we’ll be off momentarily.”
She looked confused by his sharp tone, but stood anyway and smiled at him. “Of course, my lord.”
As soon as the words had left his lips, he was ashamed of the way he sounded. He couldn’t look at her. She was only talking to the innkeeper’s son. She hadn’t done anything wrong, and deep down he knew that. He knew he was being foolish, but he couldn’t help it. The simple fact remained—men were enamored with his wife and eventually, one of them would strike her interest. The thought that she could someday leave him was pain inducing.
Lydia had agreed to share his bed, but her heart didn’t belong to him—not yet anyway. And he knew he wasn’t going to win her over by acting like some ogre, but at the moment he wasn’t in complete control of himself. He needed to have a clear head when he spoke to her next, no matter how long that took.
He climbed the stairs back up to their room, unceremoniously threw their remaining belongings into his valise, and looked around. What they had shared here was special, and he didn’t want to lose it. He knew himself well and was certain he would bark at her out of frustration. If he was going to win her heart, he couldn’t let that happen. Their intimacy was too new for him to destroy it with his mood. He’d have to protect her. In this case, from himself.
He took his time descending the staircase as his mind developed his plan. He said goodbye to the Langes and had Henderson secure the bag to the top of the coach.
He opened the door and saw Lydia’s confused look as she waited for him to join her. But Robert still didn’t trust his mood enough to face her. He had no idea what to say. He couldn’t very well explain that he was a jealous lunatic, or that he was in love with her and hated the attention she received from other men. He’d sound like a bloody Bedlamite. “I’m going to ride up top with Henderson for a while.”
Robert didn’t wait for her response before he closed the coach door firmly. Perhaps a little fresh air and th
e company of his coachman would put him a better mood for later.
***
Lydia was completely puzzled. She’d been so insecure when she found him gone that morning, but when she saw her husband, he’d pushed her fears aside. He had seemed just as loving this morning as he had been the night before. Then he went outside to check on their coach and had returned a changed man.
Had the coachman upset him? She didn’t believe that. If that was the case, he certainly wouldn’t want to ride with the man. And why couldn’t he look at her all of a sudden? She had to have done something to anger him. Though for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine what it was. But there was one thing she was certain of—her husband was angry at her.
Without him to keep her company, the ride to Gosling Park was a torturous affair. Her mind conjured up all sorts of wild explanations for Robert’s behavior. Each mile that passed made her more and more unsettled and anxious.
She hadn’t really thought of him as moody before. Sometimes he was gruff or arrogant, sometimes flirtatious, but she hadn’t ever seen his mood change so quickly. At least if he’d ridden inside with her, she could have ascertained what was wrong, what she’d done to upset him. Instead, the not knowing was driving her mad.
The night before, Robert had asked her to trust him. But he obviously didn’t trust her in return or he would have told her what was wrong. That realization was painful, and she sulked until hours later when the coach finally came to a stop.
The carriage door opened, and Lydia heaved a sigh when Robert offered her his hand. She grudgingly took it, but avoided his gaze as she looked past him upon one of the most magnificent estates she’d ever seen.
Was this Gosling Park? An enormous medieval castle loomed high above them, basking in the beautiful Dorset sun. Lydia stared at the place wide-eyed, and only remembered that Robert was with her when he slid his arm around her shoulders and whispered, “Welcome to my home, Lydia.”
She turned to meet his eyes. The warmth was back in his voice and he seemed to be the Robert she’d held in her arms the night before. Tentatively, she smiled back, but she didn’t trust him. How could she?
Robert placed her hand in the crook of his arm and led her up to the main entrance. The large wooden doors opened widely and they were soon greeted by the entire staff, headed by an elderly butler. Lydia was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of servants—more than three or four times what she’d had a Blackstone.
Robert nodded to the butler. “Thank you for gathering everyone, Dunsley.”
The butler nodded in return. “Of course, Lord Masten.”
With the commanding tone that Lydia had become accustomed to, Robert addressed the servants that were assembled before them. “It’s good to see everyone. I wanted to make sure you were all here to meet Lady Masten.”
Lydia blushed uncomfortably as several sets of eyes focused in on her. She smiled shyly at the large group before them and held tight to her husband’s arm.
Robert placed his hand over hers and continued. “I have turned over all household matters to my wife, and I’m sure you’ll all love her as much as I do.”
Lydia gulped. Did her husband just say he loved her in front of a large group of people, his own servants no less? The staff looked her up and down. Some smiled while others seemed more restrained in their assessment of her. Robert was turning over his household matters to her? She hadn’t expected that. He apparently did want her to stay here. She looked around. Could she do it?
Introductions began, and Lydia felt sure she’d be lucky to remember even a third of the staff. Maids curtseyed and footmen bowed, and soon Robert had dismissed everyone until only Dunsley remained. The butler bowed to Lydia, and she thought she saw a kind gentleness in the old man’s eyes. “Welcome to Gosling Park, Lady Masten. I’m certain your stay here will be pleasant.”
“Thank you.” She smiled gratefully. “Dunsley, is it?”
“Yes, my lady.” The butler nodded and then glanced up at the earl. “Do you need anything else, your lordship?”
“Actually, if you’ll have tea setup in the yellow sitting room, Dunsley.”
“Of course.”
“And please have my wife’s things settled into my room.”
A look of surprise briefly cross the old man’s face. It wasn’t unheard of for married couples to share a room, but it certainly wasn’t done in the vast majority of households. Dunsley nodded his head in a dignified manner and set off on his errands.
Lydia looked up at Robert, who smiled flirtatiously at her. “He was this close to losing that dignified façade of his.”
“Is that why you told him to put me in your room? To unnerve your butler?” She eyed him curiously, still desperately trying to unravel the mystery that was her husband, and still not trusting him.
Robert’s lips curled into a smile and he pulled her into his embrace. “No, Lydia, I’m putting you in our room because I plan to keep my word to you from earlier today and have you morning, noon, and night. You’ll be much more accessible when you’re right there with me. These halls get cold at night. I don’t want to have to search you out.” He bent down and nuzzled her neck.
She had his attention. He was focused solely on her at the moment. It was time to find out why he had ignored her all day. She couldn’t relax or enjoy any of this until she knew. “I thought for certain that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
Robert studied her face and frowned. “How could you possibly think that? I spent quite a bit of time last night proving the complete opposite to you.”
Lydia sighed and managed to extricate herself from his hold. “Then why did you ride up with Henderson and leave me all alone? What did I do wrong, Robert? I’ve thought all day, and I haven’t a clue.”
He seemed to freeze at these words.
She had hoped for the truth, but she got a lie instead. She knew it as soon as she heard it. “I often ride with Henderson. I like to see Dorset from the coachman’s box.”
She couldn’t even look at him. What a complete fabrication. Whatever she’d done must’ve been truly horrific, if he wouldn’t even tell her. “You’ll have to do better than that, my lord. I’m not a complete fool. The Earl of Masten doesn’t ride on his coachman’s box. People would talk, and that is unacceptable.”
“Please, Lydia,” he begged, “just let it be. I won’t do it again if it upsets you.”
She finally met his gaze with hurt eyes. “I don’t care about you doing it again, Masten. I want to know why you did it today. If I don’t know how I’ve upset you, I can’t keep from doing it in the future.”
“This has nothing to do with you. Surely, after last night, you must know that.”
How was she to know that? He couldn’t even look at her when he’d closed her inside the carriage. In fact, the look on his face had actually reminded her of when he’d sent her off to Blackstone all those years ago.
Her confusion turned to fury that he wouldn’t answer her, that he didn’t trust her. “I have absolutely no idea what I know, Masten. One moment you’re a passionate lover and the next you’re a scowling martinet.”
She could tell he was growing angry as his lips pursed and he stepped closer to her. But she wouldn’t back away from him and stood her ground. He muttered between clinched teeth, “The open hallway is not the place for this discussion, Lydia.”
Of course not! We must keep up our appearances! What would the servants think if they overheard this conversation? “That is the one part of you that never changes, Masten. I’ve never known a man that was so overly concerned with how he is viewed. I’m certain your staff is intimately aware of your drastic changes in mood. Nothing I’ve said will be a shocking revelation.”
He whispered bitingly in her ear, “And I’ve never met a woman who is less concerned with how she is viewed. If you had a bit more restraint, we wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.”
Without hesitation, Lydia slapped him across the face
. Her hand stung from the contact. No matter how close they became, she would always be his brother’s whore—she was just now coming to realize that. How could she have been so naïve to think differently? Didn’t he reminded her every chance he got? But now she was a countess, and no man was going to speak to her like that—not even her husband.
As Robert’s hand instinctively flew to the cheek that she’d assaulted, Lydia folded her arms across her chest and looked him straight in the eye. “I suggest you find Dunsley and have my things delivered to a room far away from yours, my lord.”
Robert glared back at her. “I’ll do no such thing. We have an agreement, my lady.”
Her eyes narrowed and she leaned into him. There were some things even she didn’t want servants to overhear. “Perhaps your seed took hold last night, Masten. We’ll just have to wait and see. Because until you tell me the truth, I won’t be sharing a room or anything else with you.”
She stormed off, having nothing more to say to him. As she turned down a corridor with her skirts swishing behind her, she wished she’d waited to unleash her anger on him until after she knew where she was going in this maze of a house. But she wouldn’t turn back. She wouldn’t face him until he could be honest with her, even if that meant forever.
~ 12 ~
Furious, Robert could only gape as she fled from him. He had drastic changes in mood? He wanted to yell after her, but he held his tongue. Would he ever understand women? Hell, women weren’t the problem—just his wife. One moment Lydia was an innocent, shy girl and the next she was a formidable opponent. The girl that just left him was the one he’d met at Staveley’s ball, the one he’d dealt with in London, the one who was unreasonable and difficult. He’d almost forgotten that side of Lydia existed.
